Courage has four cornerstones

 

1. embracing your fear so that you can be empowered by its energy (Undoing fear)

2. honoring yourself for embracing the fear and for taking the action you're about to take

3. taking the action (which sometimes means not taking an action, for example keeping your mouth shut)

4. honoring yourself for just having taken the action, regardless of the outcome

 

The various faces of courage

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Taking the action, however, can assume many forms, some of which might not seem to be courageous actions.

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For example, they could be the actions of

• physically touching the hand of the one you’re dating,

• verbally requesting a raise,

• verbally sharing an uncomfortable feeling,

• mentally deciding to think about a difficult issue.

 

They could be the actions of

• physically removing your hand from the one who has just taken your hand,

• verbally saying “no” to a request for a raise,

• mentally choosing to start a new project,

• spiritually taking a stand for your own magnificent life.

 

They could be the actions of

• keeping your mouth shut when you want to control things that you can’t (or shouldn’t) control,

• really listening to someone, choosing not to interrupt them,

• allowing your mind to be present to the ecstasy of silence.

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They could be the actions of

• expressing fully and completely how much you appreciate someone,

• expressing in rapturous sounds and words how you’re feeling as you’re making love,

• telling every person you come in contact with something about them that you appreciate.

 

They could be the actions of

• spending more money on something than is your habit,

• spending less money on something than is your habit,

• taking the scenic route to work,

• ironing the clothes in a “work of art” manner and acting foolishly and inefficiently as you do it.

 

They could be the actions of

• quitting high school or college,

• leaving your wife,

• saying goodbye to a boyfriend,

• moving to a new country,

• quitting a job,

• changing careers,

•  moving out of the house,

• saying goodbye to a friend.

 

They could be the actions of

• fully choosing high school or college and making it fun,

• fully choosing your wife and creating romance,

• fully choosing your boyfriend and learning who he really is,

• discovering your own country,

• creating a new passion in your current job,

• making a great game out of your current career,

• discovering the people who live in the house with you,

• finding the mystery in your friend.

 

The opportunities for choosing courage are everywhere and everywhen

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The opportunities for courage can express themselves in all forms

• of action and non-action,

• of speaking and not speaking,

• of thought, attitude, and intention.

 

What new openings for courage do you now see in your life?

 

Which ones will you take?

• Today?

• Tomorrow?

• When?

                                                                   

Often the difference between a successful man and a failure is not one’s better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on his ideas, to take a calculated risk and to act.

–Dr. Maxwell Maltz ( 1900-1976, Author of “Psycho-Cybernetics”)

 

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.

–Helen Keller (1880-1968, Social Reformer, Writer)

 

All life is a chance. So take it! The person who goes furthest is the one who is willing to do and dare.

–Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)